Fiji national rugby league team Information & Fiji national rugby league team Links at HealthHaven.com

Fiji
Nickname(s)	The Bati
Association	Fiji Rugby League
Region	Oceania
Head coach	Joe Dakuitoga
Home stadium	Post Fiji Stadium
RLIF ranking	4th
	National Uniform
	National Uniform
First international
	Western Samoa 32 - 18 Fiji ; (Apia, Samoa; 1992)
Biggest win
	Cook Islands 6 - 54 Fiji ; (Suva, Fiji; 1992)
Biggest defeat
	Australia 84 - 14 Fiji ; (Marathon Stadium, Newcastle; 12 July 1994)
World Cup
Appearances	3 (First in 1995)
Best result	Semi Final, 2008

The Fiji national rugby league team (nicknamed the Bati pron.Bar-ty) has been participating in international competition since 1992. Members of the team are selected from the domestic Fijian competition, as well as from competitions in New Zealand and Australia. For the 2000 and 2008 World Cups the Bati were captained by Lote Tuqiri and Wes Naiqama respectively.

[edit] History

The game was introduced to Fiji only in 1992 but despite this there has been a long history of Fijian players making their mark in rugby league, most notably back in the 1960s when great players such as Joe Levula and Laitia Ravouvou joined Rochdale Hornets and became household names in the English competition.

Interest and participation in rugby league snowballed throughout Fiji, and as well as continued success in the World Sevens, the Batis began playing full 13-aside games against international teams. By 1994, Fiji had hammered the Great Britain Amateur tourists (40-8) and, captained by mighty front-rower James Pickering, beat France (20-12).

They had also produced their first rugby league superstar after winger Noa Nadruku joined Canberra Raiders and in 1993 became the top try-scorer in the Australian competition.

Fiji took part in their first World Cup in 1995 where, just as the 2000 World Cup, they had the misfortune to be placed in the same group as both England and Australia. But the Batis made a massive impression in their opening World Cup game in which they ran riot against South Africa, 52-6, and had the crowd on their feet at Keighley.

[edit] 2008 Rugby League World Cup

The Fiji Bati qualified for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup to be held in Australia after finishing second in Pacific qualifying behind Tonga. Fiji's qualification campaign started with a thrilling 30-28 loss to Samoa before reversing the scoreline a few days later with a 30-28 win over the Tongans. Fiji won their final qualifying game against Cook Islands 40-4. The Vodafone Fiji Bati team started their Rugby League World Cup 2008 campaign with 42-6 win over France. They came within one match of the World Cup final, but were defeated by Australia, ending the tournament in 4th place.

[edit] 2008 World Cup squad

As of 7 October 2008

Head Coach: Joe Dakuitoga

No	Name	Position	Club
1	Jarryd Hayne	Utility Back	Parramatta Eels
2	Semi Tadulala	Wing	Bradford Bulls
3	Wes Naiqama C	Centre	Newcastle Knights
4	Daryl Millard	Centre	Canterbury Bulldogs
5	Akuila Uate	Wing	Newcastle Knights
6	Alipate Noilea	Stand off	Parkes Spacemen
7	Aaron Groom	Scrum Half	Canterbury Bulldogs
8	Iowane Divavesi	Prop	Terrigal Sharks
9	Waisale Suka	Hooker	Terrigal Sharks
10	Ilisoni Vonomateiratu	Prop	Parkes Spacemen
11	Ashton Sims	Second Row	Brisbane Broncos
12	Osea Sadrau	Second Row	Fassifern RLFC
13	Jason Bukuya	Loose Forward	Cronulla Sharks
14	James Storer	Hooker	Cronulla Sharks
15	Nick Bradley Qalilawa	Wing	Manly Sea Eagles
16	Malakai Tuiloa	Second Row	Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs
17	Semisi Tora	Second Row	Parkes Spacemen
18	Sevania Koroi	Loose Forward	West Magpies
19	Vula Naqau	Second Row	Terrigal Sharks
20	Josateki Ravueta	Prop	Sawtell Panthers
21	Jone Macilai	Full Back	Fassifern RLFC
22	Kaliova Nauqe	Second Row	Fassifern RLFC
23	Jone Wesele	Centre	Darlington Point
24	Josua Koroibulu	Prop	Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs
25	Nemani Valekapa	Prop	Nabua Broncos

[edit] Competitions

Fiji have participated in:

Pacific Cup (since 1992)
World Cup (since 1995)
World Sevens (1994-2003)
Superleague World Nines (1996,1997)
Superleague Oceania Tournament (1997)
Pacific Rim Competition (2004)

[edit] Results

Cook Islands def. Fiji 24 - 22 (24 October 2009) ^[1]
Australia def. Fiji 52 - 0 (16 November 2008)
Fiji def. Ireland 30 - 14 (10 November 2008)
Fiji def. France 42-6 (1 November 2008)
Tonga def. Fiji 14-12 (19 October 2007)
Junior Kangaroos def Fiji 15-14 (5 October 2007)
Fiji def. Cook Islands 58-12 (26 January 2007)
Fiji 40 def. Cook Islands 4 (7 October 2006)
Fiji 30 def. Tonga 28 (4 October 2006)
Samoa 30 def. Fiji 28 29 September 2006)
Tonga def. Fiji 22-4 (2006)
Fiji def. Cook Islands 40-18 (2006)
Fiji def. Samoa 26-4 (2006)
Fiji tied Cook Islands 20-20 (February 2005)
Fiji def. Niue 34-24 (23 October 2004)
Cook Islands def. Fiji 20-12 (21 October 2004)
Tonga def. Fiji 56-6 (17 October 2004)
Cook Islands def. Fiji 36-24 (17 August 2004)
Fiji def. England "A" 44-8 (11 November 2002)
England def. Fiji 66-4 (4 November 2000)
Australia def. Fiji 66-8 (1 November 2000)
Fiji def. Russia 38-12 (29 October 2000)
Fiji def. Tonga 10-6 (3 June 2000)
Tonga def. Fiji 23-20 (27 May 2000)
New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 70-0 (29 April 2000)
New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 28-12 (25 April 2000)
New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 44-14 (22 April 2000)
Fiji def. Samoa 30-4 (1999)
Fiji def. Samoa 22-16 (1999)
Samoa def. Fiji 6-1 (1999)
Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 16-14 (1998)
Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 34-12 (1998)
Fiji def. Papua New Guinea 14-10 (1998)
Fiji def. Tonga 22-14 (1998)
Cook Islands def. Fiji 22-14 (1997)
New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 32-22 (1997)
Fiji drew with Tonga 14-14 (1997)
Fiji drew with Tonga 22-22 (1997)
Fiji def. Cook Islands 14-8 (1996)
Great Britain def. Fiji 72-4 (5 October 1996)
Australia def. Fiji 66-0 (14 October 1995)
England def. Fiji 46-0 (11 October 1995)
Fiji def. South Africa 52-6 (8 October 1995)
Fiji def. France 20-12 (9 July 1994)
Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 35-24 (1993)
Fiji def. Cook Islands 54-6 (1992)
Tonga def. Fiji 23-20 (1992)
Niue def. Fiji 14-10 (1992)
Western Samoa def. Fiji 32-18 (1992)

[edit] National Rugby League of Fiji

During the Super League war Fiji, like most countries other countries, aligned itself with Super League. In search of international competition the Australian Rugby League played a match against a rebel "National Rugby League of Fiji" team in 1996. This match has been granted Test status by the Australian Rugby League, but not by the Rugby League International Federation.

Australia def. NRL Fiji 84-14 (1996)

[edit] See also

Rugby league in Fiji

[edit] References

^ http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=132229

[edit] External links

[0] ttp://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=132229

[1]

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